{"id":297185,"date":"2026-06-05T13:40:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/297185\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T13:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:40:58","slug":"red-bull-cliff-diving-world-series-arrives-in-st-pete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/297185\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series arrives in St. Pete"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. \u2014 The best cliff divers in the world are in Tampa Bay for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A temporary tower was built on the St. Pete Pier, with the men diving 90 feet into the water and the women diving 70 feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe accelerate from 0 to 60 (miles per hour) in less than three seconds, but then when you hit the water, you actually go from 60 to 0 in less than a second and only in like 12 feet (of water), so it\u2019s, like, a it\u2019s a big jolt,\u201d Red Bull Cliff Diving sport director Orlando Duque said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we have the safety team in the water. Because underwater sometimes something can happen. You know, they can be out of breath even unconscious, you know? So you think it\u2019s water, but at that speed it can be really, really dangerous. So, I think it\u2019s fun because the guys are doing big dives, but it\u2019s cool to see how under control they are all the time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The three components for judging are the launch, the look and technique of the dive midair, and the entry into the water. This sport is significantly different from Olympic high diving because it is outside and divers have to deal with the wind, and the platform they dive from is more than double the height.<\/p>\n

The @redbull<\/a> Cliff Diving World Series has made its way to Tampa Bay!<\/p>\n

The best divers in the world will be diving off the St. Pete Pier into the Bay, 90 feet above water for men and 70 ft for women \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n

Its only stop in the U.S. and they\u2019re expecting thousands to attend. @BN9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BqoazwfT0w<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael Epps (@MichaelEppsTV) June 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the divers, Kaylea Arnett, did a demonstration dive for the media during Thursday\u2019s introduction to the event, and said she grew up high diving indoors and brought that experience to this worldwide competition series.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get some people that are down here and they\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, I could do that. I could do that.\u2019 But when you get up there and you get those wobbly knees, it\u2019s a totally different view up there looking down,\u201d Arnett said. \u201cI think it can be shocking. And my key is: don\u2019t look down too long. So, yep, the scuba divers are down there. I\u2019m going to go, don\u2019t stand up there too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Round 1 got underway on Thursday, Rounds 2 and 3 are on Friday, and the final round is Saturday, where the champions will be crowned.<\/p>\n

Thousands of fans are expected to attend the event from the pier, with some fans also watching on the grass along Bayshore Drive all the way down to the Vinoy.<\/p>\n